Today In The ECHL

Published on April 8, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release

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2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Northern Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)

No. 4 Reading Royals (37-25-10) at No. 1 Wheeling Nailers (51-17-4) 7:00 ET

* No. 5 Seed Reading upset No. 4 Seed Johnstown 2-1 in Wild Card Game on April 5.
* Wheeling returns to postseason for first time since 1997-98 and for the 10th time in its 16-year history.
* In its third season, Reading is making its first Kelly Cup Playoff appearance.
* Wheeling became fifth team in league history to win 50 games and set team records for points (106), wins (50), home wins (28) and road wins (22).
* Nailers had 59 points in 2002-03 and 47-point increase in 2003-04 is the third-largest single-season point increase in league history.
* David Masse scored two goals and Cody Rudkowsky made 32 saves in Readings' 2-1 win at Johnstown on April 5.


2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Southern Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)
Florida Leads Series 1-0


No. 3 Florida Everblades (1-0) at No. 2 Roanoke Express (0-1) 7:00 ET

* Tom Buckley scored the game-winning goal and Rob Zepp made 39 saves in Florida's 4-3 win at Roanoke in Game 1.
* Express' Carl Mallette scored three points (2g-1a) and was +1 against Florida in Game 1.
* Florida has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of its six seasons in the ECHL.
* Roanoke has qualified for the postseason in each of its 11 seasons, tying the ECHL record for playoff appearances.
* Florida's Brian McCullough ranked second in the ECHL with 40 goals and third with 87 points.
* Express' Carl Mallette ranked fourth among ECHL rookies with 43 assists and 71 points.
* Everblades' Jeff Maund was 22-11-3 and tied for the ECHL lead with five shutouts.
* Roanoke's Duncan Dalmao ranked seventh among ECHL defensemen with 54 points (8g-46a).


2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Southern Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)
Louisiana Leads Series 1-0


No. 4 Pensacola Ice Pilots (0-1) at No. 1 Louisiana IceGators (1-0) 7:05 CT

* Konstantin Kalmikov scored a career-high five points (2g-3a) and Jamie Johnson tallied two power-play goals as the IceGators defeated Pensacola 8-4 in Game 1 at Louisiana on Wednesday.
* Ice Pilots' Peter Fregoe scored a power-play goal and had two points (1g-1a) at Louisiana in Game 1.
* Louisiana has advanced to the postseason in each of its nine seasons and advanced to the 2000 Kelly Cup Finals.
* Pensacola is in the playoffs for the third straight year and the sixth time in its eight seasons in Pensacola.
* Louisiana's Derek Gustafson tied for the league lead with five shutouts and ranked second with a 2.09 GAA.
* Pensacola defenseman Corey Neilson led the ECHL with 35 power-play assists and 44 power-play points.
* Louisiana's Ben Storey led league defensemen with 15 power-play goals.
* Pensacola's Brian Eklund set ECHL records with 2,194 saves and 3,724 minutes and tied the ECHL record with 38 wins.

ECHL Stories from April 8, 2004

• One Minute Spurt in the Third Period Helps Nailers Down Reading, 3-1 - Reading Royals
• IceGators Do It Again - Louisiana IceGators
• Buckley's Hat Trick Gives Blades 2-0 Series Lead - Florida Everblades
• Stanley Cup Playoffs Have 27 ECHL Players, 7 Coaches - ECHL
• Royals Sign Goaltender…Playoff Broadcast Live on Internet - Reading Royals
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Goaltender Szuper Named Sun National Bank ECHL Saver of the Month for March - Peoria Rivermen
• Eklund Finishes 4th in Voting for Golatender of the Year - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Sea Wolves Release Season Ticket Package For 2004-05 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Atlantic City's Stirling Named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Goalie of the Year - ECHL
• Steelheads announce all "Kelly's" get in free - Idaho Steelheads
• Great Scott! - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
• LaRose Recalled to Lowell - Florida Everblades
• Today In The ECHL - ECHL
• Peoria's Szuper Named Sun National Bank ECHL Saver of the Month - ECHL
• Aces Edge Gulls in OT, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
• Aces WIN 4-3 in OT - Alaska Aces

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